Contact-type electrode holder



Oct. 10, 1950 I P. TOWER 2,525,331

cormc'r TYPE ELECTRODE .noppsa Filed Sept. 25, 1947 Fig.

Inventor v Paul Tower By Attorneys Patented Oct. 10,1950

UNITED ,r STATES PATENT OFFICE f V f 2,525,381 l contract-Tyre ELECTRODE HO DER 7 ram 'rew'er, Los Angelcs, Calif. Applicants s'icemta 25, 1947,- Serial No; 776,004

The present invention relates re ways and means whereby an acceptable and usable eye treatment technique known as iontophore'sis (ion ization and/or ionic medication) is followed in dispersing and applying penicillin'or other medicaments directly to' the cornea of the eye.

To those skilled in the art to which the invenof medication in the tissues of the human eye is achieved when the stated method or technique" (iontophoresis) is used. I

What is more, it is generally recognized that there are many eye electrodes, such as used in the stated technique or method, in use, these ranging from a piece of cotton wool soaked in solution and placed betweena small metal plate and the eye, to an electrode consisting of a" small cylindrical glass tube fitting over the cornea. Some technicians and doctors and workers use a plain probe rod such as for example Hamburgers electrode which, generally speaking comprises a thin carbon red, the end of which is wrapped in cotton which has been soaked in an appropriate fluid.

Manifestly, all of these electrodes are hard to handle and manipulate and require careful manipulation and, even so, are apt to cause injury to the delicate epithelium of the cornea. Since the electrodes are not mechanically or otherwise sustained in place, they must be held in position, by hand, at all times. The usual procedure requires the presence of an assistant to handle the electrical apparatus, and the doctor whose job it is to hold the electrode in its proper position in relation to the cornea during the accomplishment of the medication technique.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode holder in the form of a contact lens which fits into the human eye in contact with the eyeball and which is so constructed that when once installed, it remains in place as Repeated experimentacontact lens, stays in direct contact with the eyeball and therefore moves with the eye, thus obviating'the likelihood that the electrical circuit will be broken when on. V

The principal object is to provide a simple and practical electrode holder in the form of an adaptor carried by a contact-type lens which sufficiently holds the electrodethat the assistant may be dispensed with and 'a doctor mayoperate an appropriate and reliable holder for an 'electhe electrical apparatus.

7 Another object of the invention is to providea contact-type holder which is made of plastic to act as an insulator and to minimize likelihood of breakage'and to also provide a lightweight struc' ture free from pressure and irritational tendencies.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an electrode I holder constructed in accordance 'with the princip'lesof the invention and showing the manner in which the same, in practice, is used;

Figure 2 is a front elevationalvi'ew of whatis seen from left to right in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional viewthrough the device removed from the eye; and 1*"i'gure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View to bring out certain other details.

The electrode holder is a unitary appliance,

as denoted by the numberal 6 and is primarily made up of plastic or an aquivalent light weight, durable insulating material. It is characterized primarily by a substantially semi-spherical cup 1 which resembles an ordinary contact lens and which is suitably concavo-convex in form to fit into the human eye A in proper relation to the cornea B of the eyeball C, as shown for example in Figure 1. The crown portion which may be said to be the corneal part of the cup is formed with a concavo-convex boss 8 and this forms a shallow cavity or receptacle 9 for the medicament (penicillin or whatever is to be used for cornea treatment), The receptacle forming boss 9 is provided with a centrally situated aperture permitting access to the cornea and this in turn is formed with an outstanding sleeve-like extension I!) which constitutes an adaptor socket for the silver electrode H. The electrode has a shank portion fitting in the adapter sleeve and has its inner end provided with a concaved head I2 forming an assembling flange. The other end.

. 4 convex boss forming a medicament receptacle, and the crown portion of said boss having an outstanding tubular extension, said extension being adapted to serve as a holding socket for an electrode, an electrode situated in said socket, said electrode having an eye at its outer end to accommodate a current supply wire, and having a headed portion on its inner end projecting into said boss to contact the medicament to be held cornea. In rare extreme cases like in keratoconus, a lens with a 6.5 mm. corneal curve can be used or in very high myopias a 8.0 mm. corneal curve is used. In use the cup I is inserted under the patients lids in the usual way used in insert-- ing ordinary contact lenses. The extension serves not only to hold the metal electrode in place, but acts as an insulator. Otherwise, the patients lid would strike against the metal when the current is on, giving not only electric shocks to the patient, but causing the intensity of the current to fluctuate. The electrode is made from silver. It is slightly countersunk on the inner surface of the corneal portion, so as to present an even surface and projects through the sleeve, ending in a small eye. vanic, machine (not shown) is inserted and looped through this ring making a simple and sufficient connection. Thus the current travels through the electrode and is conveyed into the medication contained in the corneal portion. This solution being in contact with the cornea, ionization (or iontophoresis) takes place and the medication is thus enabled to enter the cornea and tissues of the eye according to the established principles underlying ionization treatment.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

' 1. An eye appliance for use in connection with ionic medication technique comprising a substantially semi-spherical plastic contact cup adapted to be suction fitted in direct contact with an eyeball, the axial portion of said cup being provided with an outstanding concavo- The wire from the gal-,

in the latter.

2. An eye appliance for use by an eye doctor during an ionic medication treatment of a patients eye, said appliance being self-sustained when it is once inserted into the patients eye and obviating holding of same either by the doctor or an assistant comprising a concavo-convex medicament holding applicator having a marginally surrounding concavo-convex flange adapted to rest directly against the eyeball of the patient and to be held partly by suction and to reside beneath the eyelids and to be partly held in place by said eyelids, and an electrode carried by said applicator, said electrode being spaced clear of the cornea of the eye when in use and adapted to contact the medicament in said applicator.

3. An eye appliance for use by an eye doctor employing ionic medication techniques compris ing arelatively small concavo-convex medicament containing receptacle having a central aperture and an outstanding tubular extension constituting an electrode receiving and holding socket, and means for holding said receptacle in spaced opposed relation to the cornea of the eye, said means being an annular flange attached marginally to the receptacle and shaped to fit in direct contact with the eyeball of the user and being sufficiently thin to fit beneath the eyelids of the user whereby to utilize the eyelids and suction to hold said flange in place and consequently to position and hold said medicament receptacle in place, and an electrode fitted in said socket and having a headed inner end anchored in the receptacle and its outer end located for connection thereto of a current delivering wire.

PAUL TOWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Number Date 

